Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association Review

6 years ago my snake was impacted, had a stuck shed, and a respiratory infection from eating a sick mouse. After an examination from Dr. Shakeri she was proscribed anti biotics and a water injection to the stomach. I am so proud to say that my snake is not only alive and well, but thriving all thanks to this wonderful hospital. If I ever have any issues again with my snakes I will always bring them straight here. 5 Stars.

Someone must be trolling to give them a 3.3. This place is amazing! I love the staff and the vets.

The other morning it was obvious my little german shepard was in trouble. My regular vet couldn't get us in and referred us here. While she had not shown signs or symptoms before my girl had very advanced cancer and it was the end of the line for her. Being a little stressed out I didn't get the name of the vet who as it turns out is a neighbor of mine but I did want to make sure though that she knows I really did appreciate the compassion and the level of professionalism that my dog and I received in less than an ideal situation

Poor communication around timing which is especially disappointing when the possible diagnosis is cancer. At 10:45 am after an ultrasound I was told that the results will be sent right over to my vet and if I hadn't heard from my local vet by 1pm to call them to get the results. At 1:15 I called and my vet had not received results. I called Central and they said that the doctor is busy and hasn't sent out any reports yet. Understandable but please don't provide a timeline that won't be adhered to when people are waiting to hear if their pet may have cancer.

My cat has been having such difficulty with her allergies and sees two doctors at Central. The technicians/nurses are fantastic with her and she always feels very comfortable with them; anywhere else and she can be a bit feisty! The staff at Central have been giving my kitty the help she needs. I highly recommend them! They also took wonderful care of my first kitty who unfortunately passed away. They gave her critical care during her last moments and I'm so thankful they were there for her. Can't recommend them enough!

Terrible. As a wildlife rehabber I was desperate to find help on a Sunday for some injured animals. The receptionist told me to drop my attitude or she would call the police. I m 60 years old....

Great experience all around. The staff is very helpful and friendly and the final bill was lower than the estimate, which was already way lower than the other emergency animal hospital.

Our dog has some chronic health issues and has been through this hospital many times, both as an outpatient and as an emergency patient. The staff have always been kind and taken wonderful care of him, even though they are typically very busy. We are most grateful.

ONLY THING OF IMPORTANCE IS MONEY. VERY COLD AN UNCARING. ALSO MISDIAGNOSED MY ANIMAL WHEN THE INFECTION SHE ACTUALLY HAD WAS "PYOMETRA" INFECTION OF THE UTERUS WHICH IS FATAL.
THANKS GLEN! YOU ENSURED I WILL NEVER GO TO CENTRAL HOSPITAL FOR HELP OF ANY KIND.

Very kind staff and vet. Everyone's complaining about the cost but my dog was having some female problems and i got an appointment for the next morning and they got her right in. They diagnosed her and gave me instructions on what I needed to do. I paid $46. Also when I was in the waiting room a young couple ran in from out of the rain and said their car broke down. The staff was so nice. They gave them towels and brand new shirts and put their wet clothes in a dryer. The people weren't even spending money there but were helped by the staff as much as they could. Very impressed!

We brought our Frenchie here after he ate a couple of grapes, and were so impressed by the staff. First, we appreciated how transparent the vets were about the cost of treatment, confirming that we were okay with the cost of treatment prior to moving forward. Second, they took exceptional care of him. They were quickly able to induce him to throw up the two grapes, and gave him some anti-nausea medication. Our Frenchie responded super well; he was back to his old self immediately and didn't have any tummy problems at all after we returned home. Funnily enough, he didn't seem to want to leave the hospital because he enjoyed playing with the staff so much; we basically had to drag him out of there.

The one star is GENEROUS! STAY AWAY FROM THIS HOSPITAL IF YOU LOVE YOUR PET! I brought my cat to my vet because she had been losing weight and started showing signs of jaundice. He told me I needed to bring her to the hospital for an ultrasound. Upon receiving the ultrasound and getting the results he called me immediately and told me my cat needed her gallbladder removed, but otherwise was in decent health...her blood and organs etc were very good and would make a full recovery. The surgeon at this animal hospital wanted $8000-$10,000 for the surgery (Which...btw...according to 4 different vets I have since contacted SHOULD have been between $900 and $2000 at most). The this surgeon tells me that my cat only had a 20% chance of recovery AFTER my vet told me otherwise. AND...that if I brought my cat home as she was that she would die within a week and just suffer. In my emotional state, I decided to euthenize my cat...only to realize the next day that their price is a SCAM! That my vet COMPLETELY disagreed with their opinion about my cat's likelihood of recovering. AND...I most likely euthenized my 11 year old cat for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON AT ALL! I would NEVER in my life come here again...EVER!

Had an emergency yesterday with our new baby. We are in the wallingford area so unfortunately we went to the closest place which happens to be Central Hospital in North Haven. We will never go to this emergency service facility again. First they took my baby away from me and brought him God knows where. The girl at the desk asks if it is necessary to give pain meds is that ok??? I said yes, if he needs them, of course. Dr H. A was the person we saw..... after they already dosed my baby with hydro morphine ....... then decided to ask me what happened . She has zero bedside manner and seemed to not have a clue, she never did any tests to see what was going on and they dosed him before we even had a chance to tell her. she went right to the charges all she cared about was tallying up ridiculous charges for my baby to stay overnight and be monitored .After agreeing to leave him for a few hours I called back twice the first time I got the vet tech who said he seemed a little perkier and that she was going to do another set of vitals . The second time ( which was 2 hrs later) the Dr got on the phone to tell me that he has not improved and that he should stay over night$$$$$ and then proceeded to tell me that the pain meds (which were obviously too much for my 5lb Pomeranian) were reversed . At this point I said I m coming down. I took my baby out of there before they could either do more damage or kill him , and brought him to Pieper Olsen in Middletown. There the E.R. Dr was knowledgeable I was told not to give the antibiotic that central gave me as it was to much of a heavy hitter for a baby tooth being knocked out, Also the antacid they gave me, the dose was to high. I will never, and would never recommend this joke of an animal hospital to anyone. They obviously care nothing for the animals only for lining their pockets. P.S this place also happens to be the place my sister brought her cocker spaniel to in an emergency situation and they talked her into keeping him overnight so he could be monitored and he died in their care. Very bad experience would give zero stars if I could.

Took our puppy for an EMERGENCY visit. From arrival to being allowed in took 45 minutes, and after I called an hour after he entered for an update, he hadn't even been seen by the doctor yet. Finally he was seen at the 2hr-15min mark.
$168 for a quick fix, not even bandaging up my animal, and 2.5 hours of extra worry over our pet?
Do not recommend.

Thank you to the ladies who helped put my Jack to rest the other night you girls are amazing

This is my second time bringing my dog here, and the staff are always great! They are a bit expensive, but they have helped us time and time again. Will always come back if there's another problem.

Our dog got sick all of a sudden in the middle of the night, and we brought her to Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine to be checked out. They took her right in and gave her all the love while we waited outside. I cannot speak more highly of Jenna - she was absolutely wonderful in talking me through a scary experience, and took the time to make sure I knew my pup was going to be well taken care of. They didn t blind side us with the cost of any of the diagnostics or treatments, gave us great advice in terms of what they would recommend, and didn t try to do anything unnecessary to treat her. I would absolutely use them again.

We brought our dog here after he was attacked by another dog. They immediately took him in and had him seen by Dr. Dorbandt as he had a severe laceration near his eye. It was incredible, they had him stitched up and taken care of in a short amount of time. We were extremely upset and worried that his eye was damaged but luckily the doctor stitched his eyelid together perfectly and he's healed beautifully. The staff was very understanding as we called them with questions and concerns throughout the recovery process. Sometimes I get the feeling vets are so used to seeing animals injured/sick that they forget we aren't used to seeing our animals this way BUT the staff here was so compassionate and patient with us. We called probably half a million times and each time they talked to us and even allowed us to bring our dog in earlier to make sure everything was healing properly still. We are forever grateful to you all for your care and thank you again, Dr. Dorbandt for taking care of our best friend!

They only care about money wait for 3+ hours. Refuse to see you until they are sure they will be paid. Come in with an emergency but unless you have a high credit card you are seen last.they do nothing.money hungry people they do not care about animals

Brought my dog on a friday night at 9pm because he would not stop vomiting or panting. They did blood work, x rays and he had to stay overnight. The next morning I had to call twice because I had not heard back from anybody (once at 8am and then at 10am after the doctors had finished their rounds ). The person who answered the phone would not even tell me if he was okay, all she said was that at some point somebody would call me with an update. At 11:30am the doctor called saying that my dog was doing better and that he could possibly be discharged in the afternoon. I called again at 2pm because they had not called me. I was told that the doctor would need to call me with update. At around 3-3:30pm the doctor called saying that my dog could go home under trial to see how he would do at home but if we wanted to be certain an ultrasound was needed. I was very confused on why this was now needed at this point when the night before I was told either x rays or an ultrasound would need to be done in the morning to assess the illness. Why wasnt the ultrasound done earlier instead of repeating x rays without asking for my approval? I asked the doctor why instead of doing this early on they waited until almost 4pm on a Saturday to find a technician to do the ultrasound and all she said it was up to me. (The night before they told me the ultrasound would need to be done in the morning because it was hard to find a tech during the weekend). At 4:30pm the doctor called to inform us that there was nothing wrong with the ultrasound and we could pick him up. This situation is very unfortunate and I truly feel like it could have been handled differently. If you are like us, our pet is like a child to us and when your pet is sick you do anything to make them feel better and find out what is causing the illness but this center completely took advantage of the situation. I do not understand why they did two sets of x rays if the first ones didnt show anything. Our Vet called and he was told our dog was fine and they didnt mention to him that they would recommend an ultrasound. When your dog is so sick and you get a call recommending a procedure of course you will agree, that is just human nature. At the end of the day we ended up picking up our dog, paying $2100 and still not have a definite answer on what caused his illness or on why they took the same x rays twice and wasted all this time. Due to COVID they would not let anybody in, you have to wait in the car for your pet. During these times and whenever you visit any doctor including pediatricians, one healthy parent is allowed to be there. This really makes me wonder what was going on in there. At the end of the day its not about how much the bill was is how there was no diagnosis, the night he was hospitalized they said it was an issue with his small intestine... but a day after there is nothing wrong? I cannot help but wonder if this was even the right diagnosis.
I feel deceived and so worried that my dog is home and we still don t know what is wrong with him. It looks like this place just wants to get every dollar they can get from you but theres no care for your pet or for you.
There are other ERs in CT and I will rather drive to them instead of visiting this center again.

Dorothy Moore works for Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine and can be found coincidentally giving them a "five star" rating to counter back their malpractice and the truth.

Sorry to say but Central is a money-maker first and foremost and a literal revolving door of animals in and out, in and out, all about the dollar sign. Even logistically speaking, there is no way that many animals can get appropriate care in a single day with the staff they have. The waiting room is standing room only at times and the front desk is chaotic at best. They ALWAYS try to upsell you with recommendations for expensive tests. Beware of this place

Staff were nice enough, the vet was great and handled my terrified cat very well. Accurately diagnosed and treated.

Dont be fooled. This place only cares about how deep your pocket is nd will try only as hard for that result. The ultrasound male, David, was wonderful, but after that it was all down hill. After multiple times they couldn't even write the proper information on my sheet having my fur baby for over an hour and asking asking what color she was should have been red flag. I gave a 2 because the support staff is nice, but the superiors don't care if your animal ia suffering or to help them only what works for them. If you want to see a internist or specialist make sure you come during the day hours. I felt as if the critical doctor here had no compassion and just didnt cut the mustard, asking me about me bill and payment second beforw they euthanize my animal.

i m not here to dunk on the quality of the care here. they gave my pet pain medications and fluids and were completely prepared to give him the best care possibly available and i trust in this.
the issue i have is the way i was spoken to when i admitted there was no possible way for me to afford treatment. my pets are like my family. i have severe PTSD and live alone, and sometimes my pets are quite literally the only friends i have.
when someone is in an emergency situation, you have them waiting for hours, and you slap them with a 1700 dollar quote, and they tell you there s no way you can afford it, don t tell them to open a credit card. don t try and coerce them into keeping the animal in your care. if i had 1700 dollars to spend without putting myself on the street i would have given it in a heartbeat. try a little harder to find them alternate care. now i m hundreds of dollars in the hole, stressed about one of my best friends dying and my finances, and in the meantime im having to find other options or at the very least affordable euthanasia with this guilt imposed on me, implying because i ended up in a tight financial situation in a /pandemic/ that i m not doing the absolute best i can to provide for my animal.
i know you guys are busy, i know you probably deal with clueless pet parents all the time, i know it gets exhausting but please don t forget that i and other people are humans. our finances don t dictate our love for our pets. you don t know what s happened to someone to put them in the situation they re in.
that s all i have to say on that.

I wish I could give this place 0 stars. Worse service. They told me and my family that our cat was sick and had cancer and told my child that our cat was going to live for weeks so we decided to take her home and 3 says after we bought her home she had passed away in our child room.

Thanks to the staff and especially Dr Kennedy. Showed compassion and respect in our dog s last hours. Cannot thank them enough for allowing us time to grieve and showing they care.

Delightful staff at the front desk, techs and nurse. Quick and caring emergency service for our kitten, felt like she was in great hands the whole time. Could not have asked for a better experience, especially at 11PM. Thanks so much!

I cannot recommend this Hospital. The focus is on testing and raising the costs of your bill rather than the care of your pet. An emergency visit will cost $130, blood work for your animal will cost $280, and you will be charged for medications as well. The astronomical prices, the long wait times, and uncaring veterinarians are the reasons to avoid this facility.

I brought my cat in because she was acting very strange. I waited three hours for a checkup, blood work, and for medications to be prescribed. The veterinarian I met with, Dr. McDonald, had an incredibly poor bedside manner. She was very abrupt, spent very little time with me, would not give me a definitive answer as to my cat's health, did not provide any real information about my cat's health, and was generally unresponsive.

Dr. McDonald insisted on as much testing and treatment as possible for my cat. The costs of these treatments and tests were absurdly overpriced. The insistence by the vets for additional testing, coupled with their "inability" to produce results, makes this facility very costly for a series of "We don't know what's wrong yet" responses.

Stay away from this hospital. They are looking to line their pockets at expense of your pet's health. I cannot recommend them under any circumstances.

My dog was having a very bad cough and was in a lot of discomfort when I went to another 24 hour animal hospital. Due to the first place having a 4 hour wait I ended up here. The staff was initially very nice and professional but, I felt that changed when I expressed that $2000 for an overnight visit to just monitor my dog was a bit excessive. I would likely return here again because they're still cheaper than the 24 hour vet nearest me but I still am displeased that I wasn't treated as nicely after I said I can't afford certain treatment options.

My kitty was deteriorating fast. When I got to Central they took her right in for an ultrasound. Every staff member I worked with, especially the doctors, explained everything to me - including the cost we were currently at and what anything further would add. I opted to hospitalize my cat in the ICU for two days and she is at home now good as new. I walked in on Wednesday thinking my cat wasn t coming back home. But yesterday I walked out with her because Central saved her life. Thank you!

I visited the hospital this morning around 4:30am with my elderly cat who was failing. She had been having difficulties during the previous week and it reached a critical level after I had visited my local vet 2 days prior. Jenna at the front desk was friendly and professional, both on the phone and in person. The doctor was thorough,
explaining all the options in detail while taking into account my financial situation. He was also very sensitive and kind (while remaining professional) and made my difficult decision and the experience of putting my beautiful cat down more comfortable and somehow tolerable. Thank you so much...

Dr. Kennedy & the team of techs (Vicki, Monica, Linda, Kizzy) in the ER were beyond amazing. You can tell they truly love their job & the patients they care for. I can not even express how grateful I am to have had such a great group of people surrounding my cat with such care and love.

They are very patient with my super hyper lovey dovey 70lb staffie so kudos to them. We've had to take her twice and each time the wait is pretty decent. Didn't always have the meds we needed on hand or they'd get 5 stars.

Brought my German shepherd puppy in after he chased after a car and got hit on the side. They saw him immediately and luckily vet determined no injuries other than a sprain.they did not charge me ! Friendly staff

Disgusting the way the staff treat patients and neglectful of animals. My service dog came home shaking and scared. Neglected water and client care coordinator yells at disabled people who try to express concerns. Will let everyone know how horrible this place is. Do not trust them! Find another vet. You contuine to give false information stating I screamed at you and used cuss words when I couldn't even speak since you constantly spoke even my husband when he heard Kathy yelling told her. I was disabled so she shouldn't be escalating situation the way she was to ANYONE . I have no reason to lie and make sure everyone knows how your hospital is ran and treats animals horribly. You have every reason to keep lying and making this situation to your advantage. Just to make money. I'm being honest with the community to make sure no one else ever gets treated like I did. you continue to bring up information that was not the issue. My dog being neglected and fearful after going into this hospital for treatment and received none. You continue to lie which will only ruin your reputation more and more as I am not the only one who has said these things about the clinic so some changes might need to be made. The fact you continue to antagonize me only proves recollection is accurate. And shows how unprofessional you and this hospital are.

I believe my dog received good care, and for that I m thankful. The front desk is chaos and not professionally handled, especially by the woman who checked us out (the others seemed fine). All of this added stress to an already stressful situation. We were given no aftercare instructions for our dog who had been under anesthesia. After spending all of that money I m home googling if shaking is normal. I finally called. I do want to say that the woman who called to say the cat scan was finished was very nice and professional as well as the person who picked up and delivered our dog to us. I sincerely hope you consider revamping your customer area. I would NEVER choose to go back there unless I had no other choice.

I called prior to bringing my pet into CHVM, I was pretty sure my male cat was blocked. I spoke with Alexis on the phone ~ she was amazing and suggested I apply for Wells Fargo to help with expenses. I did not know about Wells Fargo, I applied and was approved. What a HUGE weight off my shoulders! When I got to CHVM in North Haven I was greeted by Nina, she also went out of her way to be kind, compassionate and professional. She whisked Butters away immediately so hey could evaluate him. Unfortunately he was blocked and Dr Rodina came out to explain everything she needed to do - in full detail. I was also given a treatment plan , so I was aware of all charges. I truly appreciate the transparency. I work at East Shore Veterinary Hospital and we routinely send clients to CHVM - now after my experience I can say without a doubt that they get the very best care possible. Thank you Doctors and staff you all ROCK! Butters and I thank you.

I brought my baby Charis (female veiled chameleon) in for an emergency visit, not knowing what to expect. The receptionists, veterinarian technicians, emergency veterinarians and exotics specialist are beyond amazing and truly valued my repchild for what she is, my baby. They were communicative, warm, understanding, patient, thorough and so so much more. The only reason Charis is alive and well today is because of everyone who works there, my gratitude to them all can never be expressed enough. Dr. Shakeri put me at ease, explained every step in Charis treatment, explained every risk and did what was right for my girl. I left Tuesday night fearing the worst, scared that she would have to have emergency surgery the following day. Dr. Shakeri called me Wednesday morning and made sure she didn t have to go through such a serious procedure by choosing an alternative medical treatment. The vet techs are amazing, the front desk as well, they gave me not only medical but also personal updates at all hours. Their patience and friendliness is so appreciated. I highly recommend this hospital and will continue to bring my repkids in for any future medical needs. Thank you to everyone!

I brought in my 6 month golden retriever Enzo in January who was really sick. Vomiting, lethargic etc. I got a call within a half an hour that he was in dire need of emergency surgery for a blockage. This was on a Sunday. They had to hydrate him first before surgery. He was in bad shape. The staff were always friendly and was so helpful when I called for updates. Plus the would call every morning. 5 days later he was able to come when there was a point we didn't think he would make it. Thank you so much. Now one of my other goldens is going in tomorrow for minor surgery and I know she will be in great hands. Wonderful staff, I even brought them in bagels the next day as a thank you.

Brought by cat in through ER for a chest mass, drs and techs were great at keeping me updated with how she was doing and what the plan was. Highly recommend

I have been using Central Hospital for the last 6 years to care for my 2 cats and puppy. Shortly after bringing my oldest cat to them for the first time they diagnosed and treated a life threatening illness and literally saved my cats life. I have never hesitated to call our vet for advice and the staff has always been professional, respectful and compassionate. I constantly recommend the hospital to others and would never think twice about bringing any animal there.

We are always greeted with a smile and professionalism. You could'nt ask for a better Staff . The Doctors and Staff are the absolute best! !!!!!!

Thank you

Best Vet Hospital in Connecticut. I highly recommend Dr Morgan McKay for dog spaying, dental cleaning and any general surgery. Also recommend Dr Donna Taylor for palate, ENT, and nasal surgery for Frenchies and short nose dogs. Pet Insurance helps a lot, and yes it can get expensive but they are good and fair with pricing. Front desk staff is not always friendly, but Mary Anne in the front is an Angel. Thank you always for your excellent care of my fur babies!

We took our dog there when he was having seizures due to low blood sugar. After a full examination, they discussed the cost of his treatment plan. I know many people don't like this, but sadly it's part of emergency vet medicine. We agreed to the plan, paid what we needed and our dog was admitted and treated. We were kept up to date on his progress, allowed to visit and our every call was answered by a friendly voice ready to assist us. This was a much better experience than we had a Shoreline years ago when our dog was attacked by another dog. They wouldn't even touch him until they had a $3000 deposit despite his serious injuries (deep lacerations and puncture wounds). I highly recommend Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine...it's run like a human hospital with efficiency, professionalism and kindness.

A few days ago my naughty puppy ate 2 straight pins. I rushed her directly to the hospital and we received kind, helpful, compassionate care. She was hospitalized for two nights and carefully monitored, and now she's home and pin free.

The staff was hugely kind to me while I freaked out and panicked about my dog being in so much danger. They helped me understand the risks and benefits of all actions and we came up with a course of care. They also helped me with billing my pet health insurance company and helped to explain how billing would work and what I needed to do.

The night I went in was the Saturday before Christmas so it was very busy and it was clear they were doing the best they could with minimal staff and a huge case load. But they found the time to be kind and supportive and to get my dog the best care possible.

We have a rabbit / bunnies actually 2 but ones been really sick thank god for Dr S. And this hospital for saving the lives our our bunnies and dog and the staff is amazing.

We have had such a great experience! My wife and I have nothing but positive things to say about Dr. Looney, Jill Bruno and her team. From their caring towards our dog Shovi, to the time they take to reach out to us and touch base about how he's doing , this team has been nothing but professional and responsive. What we appreciated the most is that they did not pressure us into getting services and were honest about when/how treatment was no longer necessary. We would highly recommend this clinic and are very grateful for them!

My in-laws and I brought our dog as an urgent medical matter . Long story short, this place wanted 25K. No payment plans, no deposit and no other options or feasible means, just plain simple and only option 25k. Basically, we didn t have 25K sitting around to hand to them on that night, nevertheless the cost was outrageous. We then choose to retrieve our dog for a second opinion, they refused. My father in law was devastated. They made us sign a five page waiver, for us so we can go in and see our dog for the last time. Come to find out a week later the place was raising money for our dog. We contacted this place and demanded explanations, they quickly deleted the go fund me account and lie to us that our dog was still sick and dying . Two days later it was brought to our attention an employee that works there has our dog under her care up and running and refused at all means giving our family dog for years back. Basically it was all a SCAM, a lie and unprofessional- absolutely NO ETHIC. I m appalled that this place kidnapped our dog and prayed onto vulnerability of people. They let our family devastated, how can this people do this!? Please do not take your dogs or any kind of pet that you love here.

I brought my cat here after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer by my veterinarian. There are only a handful of places in the state of Connecticut with the permits necessary to offer radio-iodine treatment for cats with hyperthyroidism, Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine being one of them and my other options being in Thyrocat in Stamford and Brookfield.

I called my previous vet, Dr. Ball at A Cat's Corner in Oxford (who I loved but unfortunately moved too far away to continue seeing regularly), and I got her honest opinion on what to do. My cat was not responding to the oral medication and dietary supplements. She was nine at the time which isn't very old, but she's had heat disease since she was about four years old so surgery was a concern as anesthesia on a cat with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy was a risk.

Dr. Ball recommended the i-131 treatment for my cat as she was a good candidate and the procedure had a 95% success rate and did not require surgery. I made the arrangements with Central Hospital, brought Pepper in, and was immediately treated with care, knowledge and professionalism. While my cat was going through the treatment she had to stay at the Hospital for about a week due to her radioactive levels. A staff member caring for Pepper called me every day to let me know how she was doing - this meant the world to me, as you have to wait at least five days for your cat to go down to a 'safe' radioactive level before she can go home. The procedure was a success, my cat is completely cancer free and the veterinarians and staff were amazing! I cannot recommend this hospital enough - they are also a 24 hour emergency care facility, something I have struggled to find in the past as the two near me in Wilton and Newtown are terrible. I now have piece of mind I can bring my pets here and they will get the best care - it's worth the hour drive to know your animals are in the best hands... not to mention, they saved my cat's life!

*The 3rd photo is from when she first came home. I purchased a radiation dosimeter to monitor her levels after the i-131 radio-iodine treatment, yet the machine only went up to 9.99 mSv!

My bulldog was having trouble breathing. We called on our way in. They met us at the door and from that point on the whole staff was compassionate and professional. They gave me an estimate of what they thought not knowing exactly what might be in store. The actual bill was much lower than expected due to the actual treatment. I understand every situation is different but I was a little nervous about some of the negative reviews. After my situation if I could I would give them 10 stars I would. Unbelievable service. Thank you bringing my bulldog back to health.

My husband and I brought our dog here to see the cardiologist for a heart murmur. We made an appointment and were promptly seen. The staff was nice and helpful. My dog has severe anxiety at the vet and the staff was very understanding and sweet to my dog - petting him and talking sweetly to him while he had an echocardiogram. He ALMOST relaxed, which is rare! I felt the vet was very thorough during his exam and made us feel at ease. I would absolutely bring our dog here again and very satisfied with the service we received.

They care more about getting paid then they do about your pet. I brought my cat in during the night because he had a urinary tract blockage and was in critical condition. They wanted almost 3k to keep my cat overnight with a huge list of unnecessary charges. Made me apply for all these credit cards while i waited in the parking lot. The next morning i was getting my new debit card in the mail and they would have been paid. Nope. They made me drive all the way home for a blank check and drive all the way back. They wouldn t preform any surgery etc until they were paid knowing my cat was dying by the minute. Unreal. These people should be ashamed of themselves, pulling at people s heart strings makes a lot of money i guess!

I had to bring my much loved dog here twice in one year, first time bc of a bladder blockage and the second time bc he ate a rug, yes ate a rug. I was very upset bc for 48 hours all he did was whine and throw up everywhere. I brought him in and now he is recovering at home and doing much better. I have two words of advice if you have a large breed dog or a bully breed...get pet insurance and go to central if something happens. No matter where you go, having a pet is expensive, but my dog was in good hands...thank you Dr. Taylor, Nicole and the other important members of the team who took very good care of my baby Diesel!

I will clarify to say the 2 doctor I spoke to were sweet and wonderful and I trusted the vets assessment. I cant speak for overnight care in between the 2 as I wasnt there nor did I speak to the vet. I was upset about charges and while I still think this place is overall pricier than other emergency places I've been, the price and everything was explained well and melinda did a great job at this and I am more understanding because of this explanation and care to explain things. I still am taken back by the expense but the care to explain why was great actually and I am pleased with her explanation and I feel more comfortable with it even if it killed my emergency fund. I agreed with Dr. Shaquiri's assessment and trusted her judgement of the least harm to my pet even though the outcome was negative.....its never always sunshine and rainbows. I thank Melinda for explaining things to me as this makes things more understandable to me and I am more accepting now. She was kind and patient and had wonderful customer service skills.

Remy says Thank you Dr. Shakeri Even despite an unsuccessful endoscopy procedure (I had made the mistake of feeding remy AFTER I realized half of a styrofoam tray was missing from his enclosure. My fault on both accounts.) he FINALLY passed all the styrofoam through his GI tract with no complications thanks to the medication he was prescribed. The staff and Dr. Shakeri were all empathic as well as level headed. We were given options and were involved in the discussion on best courses of action. We are very grateful to have our healthy and somewhat sassy iguana live to NEVER eat another styrofoam tray again!

New Haven Central Animal Hospital is like the person who wrote on Jan. 22, 2009 said, NHCAH is an EMERGENCY VET. Also after working at a vet hospital, the Dr.s have to approve the estimates, the receptionist is not the Dr. and therefore cannot give a straight estimate without getting it reviewed by a Dr. first before calling you back and telling you. And depending on when your dog last had a comprehensive exam, it was probably necessary. If it was over 30 days, most vets like to do another for safety reason for the animal, make sure nothing has evolved since the last time they were checked, or if they have never personally checked out the animal, they want to make sure that they have PERSONALLY made sure that the pet is ok to undergo whatever treatment or procedure. And truthfully, I personally the only time I went there, did NOT have a great experience and for over a year, held a grudge and resented them for the way that they handled my dog with what was going on. We weren't allowed to see him until we made a life or death decision and then we had to go down to their treatment area to put our dog down, and to top it off, we just wanted to go down, say our good byes in 1 min and be done, instead it took about 10-15 min for them to realize we were ready for him to go peacefully and be on our way. However, I'm over my grudge (notice the rating!!), have been on their end in the vet hospital and NHCAH is a wonderful hospital with well equipped staff and facility that I personally, and my place of work recommend to our clients in the event of an emergency. You could have ended up in a place much worse where they didn't treat you pet at all.

Horrible, horrible, horrible!!!!! Do NOT take your pet here! I brought my cat here for x-rays because he was uncomfortable lying on his side. One thing led to another and after 3 days and numerous probing, injections and tests costing $4,400 I had to take him home ten times worse than what I brought him in for. The only concern they had was my credit card number. Gave me pain killers for my cat and neglected to tell me that he would have trouble walking while taken them. Instructions stated that if he was walking wobbly to INCREASE his dosage. He could barely walk and I almost put him to sleep thinking he was getting worse every day, but it was the pain killers. As soon as I took him off the pain killers he was back to being his normal self. He has arthritis which I now treat with Coseguin and he is very comfortable and happy. No compassion at all!!

They are caring and supportive when you pet is in distress.

This place is terrible. I took my dog there and all they were interested is me giving them a $4000.00 deposit before they even saw him. Then after doing $4000.00 worth of useless tests, they told me they wanted to euthanize my dog because he could not be saved. I took him home and gave him some old Prednisone and Doxycycline I had in my house and he started drinking and has been getting steadily better. I called my usual vet and he said to keep him on the Doxycycline and Prednisone. They stole my money and did nothing to help my dog. And they are refusing to give me and explanation or a refund. Never go there!!

Brought my dog here because he was feeling lethargic and ignoring his food..they made us do random tests like a drug test that was unnecessary and costed us $75 in case he ate a drug lying around and when it came negative they still blamed it on weed. They said they would give my boyfriend the papers that came with whatever they did to him but my boyfriend left without the papers. So he had to call and email them once more. They misdiagnosed my dog and still didn t say what they thought was wrong with him and insisted it was the weed we probably dropped on the floor. We paid $250 for letting him chill there for an hour.

Every time I have visited this hospital I've had an outstanding experience. Everybody who works there clearly cares about animals enormouslly- you can tell by their professionalism, their love for every animal that walks in, and the way they communicate with the owners. I have interacted with multiple doctors there and they have all been amazing, and very well educated. The hospital itself is so clean and has such a positive atmosphere, even during the tough circumstances that I've had to bring our dog in. I am sincerely grateful to everybody at Central.

The care given to our pets at Central Vet have been outstanding. Although the outcome of 2 over the past year was unfortunately one that was not reversible, they have been outstanding with 2 other pets during this time frame as well and have done a phenomenal job. Dr. Harley is a very special internist, one that I am very confident with and cares deeply about her patients. The surgical staff who cared for one of our pets earlier in 2020 was also outstanding. Thank God Central Veterinary Hospital is so close and accessible for our 4 legged children.

Such a waste of time and awful service. Please be aware for a doctor to see your pet, it s $130 right off the bat. Paid $130 just for the doctor (who was extremely rude) to examine my dog for 5 minutes (I kid you not) only to tell me my dog needs rest. I waited to be seen for an hour and 30 mins. While my dog is crying in pain because of a torn ligament. I will never come here again.

I can not express how wonderful this place is... Very friendly and they really care they are not trying to "run up" the bill like most emergency vets(aka cheshire) Worth the extra drive...

My dog Diesel came to this vet after being rejected for removal of his spindle fiber tumor on the day of his presurgical bloodwork. We were scared being that Diesel is almost 11 years old and this is a really tricky cancer. Dr. Lansdowne did his surgery, he stayed for 2 days under there care. He was very anxious and did not sleep well so they laid with him and pet his head. They called me 2x a day with updates. I picked him up the Thursday after his surgery and was shocked at how great he was acting. He had 5 tumors in total removed and one of then ( the cancerous tumor) was very large and took up his whole side. I was beyond impressed with this vet. They took care of my baby in the most amazing way. They took care of me like family. They helped physically, emotionally, and most surprisingly they helped financially. I would recommend these guys to ANYONEEE with a pet in need. Tomorrow Diesel goes back for his staple removal and he has been cleared for any follow up treatment. They got so much of the tumor they believe it is unlikely it will come back. I owe Dr. Lansdowne and her team the biggest thank you. I trusted you with my baby and now I have more time with my precious boy. They gave me the greatest gift ever.

Very unhappy experience where my poor sick dog and I waited for a long time, only to be told they were too busy and pushed us to go to their other facility (so they'd still get our money) in Guilford (!) instead of a more local alternative. Of course we did not do that. They had already shown that they didn't care about my sweet girl, just money. My dog couldn't have gone for a long car ride in her condition but they showed no interest in helping us. By the way, we went Cheshire Veterinary Hospital and they were great. I will never go to a Central again. Never.

They are THE BEST! I brought my beloved Mufasa into Central with severe renal failure. I was emotional and distraught. From the moment I walked in I was met with care and concern for not only my cat, but for me as well. They were compassionate, professional, and forthcoming explaining all my options and cost involved. They took my kitty and within 3 days he had come literally back to life. I m so grateful to the entire staff at Central. I recommend them 100% to anyone who is in need of emergency care .

I cannot say enough about the top-notch emergency care that my 14 year old dog received at Central Hospital! Dr. Sterman and Jenna were fantastic...very knowledgeable and friendly, even at 3:30am! They treated us as if she has been a patient there for years. Dr. Sterman knew exactly what the problem was and immediately put my dog on the right course of treatment. By the next day she was showing significant signs of improvement! My dog can have some separation anxiety but when Jenna brought her back out to me she did not seem scared or stressed at all, so I know she was very well taken care of during the short time she was there. I am so grateful to Dr. Sterman and Jenna for taking such wonderful care of my sweet old girl!

Very please with how my visit had went! I Had to bring my sick chicken here a few weeks ago. At the time my local vet was closed and could not see her. If it wasn't for the amazing staff and Dr. there that day, she would not have made it.

Central Hospital, Dr. Lansdowne and the staff are extraordinary. I had to travel over 50 miles but would travel over 100 miles or move to Guilford if needed. They are concerned about the animal and the owner and not your credit card, which I have experienced near where I live. I can't thank them enough!

The absolute WORST experience we ve ever had at a vet!

Before writing this review I took the time to read all the reviews I have been in business for 21 years and know how expensive things are with saying that us as pet owners should better educate ourselves and since my dog has gone and had surgery and they saved his life I refuse to put a price on that Moving forward though we will be looking into medical insurance for our furry son because we say how important our animals are to us and we make sure our children are covered so why not our pets I thank all the staff at Central for all they did for Sampson They saved his life and for that im forever grateful for all they did

Although expensive (like any emergency medical help will be, especially for pets) the staff made what was already a very stressful night, as comfortable as it could have been. Everyone from the front desk to the doctor was exceptional with me and my dog. They made sure to be thorough without adding on unnecessary exams and spoke with me every step of the way. I felt involved in the plan of care and that my dog was taken care of when they kept him over night. Very good experience.

My German Shepherd developed a chronic wound which could not be stitched up. I was devastated but they recommended hyperbaric oxygen treatments and it was like a miracle happened! He healed after 4 treatments. Vicky was super and kept me updated all the time. No fun visiting an emergency vet hospital, but this is the only one I would trust with my fur babies! Continued success and keep up the great job that you guys do!

I brought my guinea pig in this week through the Emergency Services when he suddenly seemed ill; unfortunately it turned out that he had a heart murmur and he was going into heart failure. I'm so sad that he didn't make it but I wanted to commend the doctor for her compassion, her clear explanation of what was happening, her willingness to talk through the options with me while I was beside myself with despair, and for letting me have time alone with him to say good-bye. Everyone from the waiting room staff to the nurses to that doctor were wonderful kind people and I knew my guinea pig was getting the best care he could possibly ask for. Thank you again.

We recently moved to the area and this was our first experience with Central. Our dog had an accident and we were very concerned. She was seen immediately and the staff --from vet to vet tech to receptionist -- was courteous, professional, caring and knowledgeable. We were very happy with the care our dog received and would absolutely come back here again.

Don't bring stray animals here. The option they gave us was pay for the stray or they'd put it down. Then they kept tacking on more and more charges until I ended up feeling forced to pay 600$ to put down a stray cat that had minor injuries.

SO grateful for the staff here!! Was the 1st emergency vet visit we've EVER endured w/our 4 pets over the past 5+ years (praying it's the last) & felt SO comfortable & secure w/how things were handled! They found a way to bring us such comfort & peace during such a high-stress situation! Something we're FOREVER grateful for!! Pricing is fair & we REALLY appreciated the fact that they answered all of our questions/concerns, explained all of our options (in depth), & also took the time to go over what the range of cost would be (without rushing us or forcing any decisions on us) so we could make the most educated decision for our fur baby!!
Strongly recommend!! Thank you a million times over!!!

Everyone I've ever interacted with here has been super helpful and willing to talk to me for a long time, they really care. This of course leads to long wait times, because they're spending that time with everybody who goes there including the appointment before yours :) It's understandable, and worth the wait.

The services they offer are high tech and expensive, but I've quoted them around and they're often the cheapest game in town. Sketchy looking chain clinics that only do I-131 treatment and no other veterinary services all want $1800+, Central is $1200. Huge difference. Yes it's expensive, it's an expensive treatment. But they don't gouge you for the maximum amount that the market will bear, which it seems like the chain places are doing.

The overall service is so rude. The front desk does not care about anything except making sure they take your money then they make you wait over 30 minutes to get your dog. They claim they are extremely busy but instead they are just not doing there job. There s lots of free technicians running around gossiping.

If your Pet needs specialized or routine care, this is the place to take them.24 hour service when you need it.Professional and Courteous service.

My cat passed over the rainbow bridge a couple weeks ago. I called Central and said, I think my cat just died, and I don t know what to do . I was so upset that I broke down in the middle of spelling out my last name, but the woman I spoke with was amazingly sweet, patient, and empathetic.

Despite the fact that she had already passed away, the staff at Central gave me all the time I needed to say goodbye to my sweet girl once I arrived. I was able to choose a beautiful urn for her ashes, and I also had her little paw print memorialized. When I picked these items up, I was asked how I was doing, which was a simple gesture that made a huge difference to me.

Last, I just want to state that I live in Southington, so Pieper is actually closer to me, and I was originally planning to go there for that reason alone. But Pieper expressed zero empathy when I called them, whereas Central made me feel like family. For any future needs, there s no question of where I ll go; Central s staff is setting a beautiful example of how things should be done. Thank you!

We had to rush our dog baby to the hospital tonight. The staff were nothing but nice, patient and understanding through my bit of panic. They answered all my questions and were direct in explaining what my dog needed and with thier plan of action. They were also incredibly sweet with my pup, who was scared at first, but warmed up to them immediately. They really put my mind at ease. Our dog baby is now home feeling MUCH better and happy. We and Bjorn thank you all for your help and for doing what you do

Fast and friendly,They seem to care for the animals.

I brought my Pekingese to this emergency veterinary Hospital and they were very professional.. Every staff member was caring and compassionate, especially Antonio, who went to get my dog when he was finished..I have visited other emergency veterinary hospitals and have had really bad experiences. Thank you to Central veterinary hospital for taking great care of Harley....

Excellent place for pet care... especially for services that her regular vet can't provide ...we needed a cardiology consult...she likes going there...caring staff.

My dog was really sick, no others vet want to take my dog do to finically issues. Soon I got to this place they took my dog in with no questions, am really appreciative of the team work in this hospital! They work out with me and I was able to save my dogs live!! They are the BEST!

Cant express how thankful I am for everyone who saw andd took care of my dog today. My Italian Greyhound had shots today and had an allergic reaction. I brought her in and they fixed her right up. They were so sweet and concerned and did everything they could to not only help her but put me at ease as well. I really appreciate the care, time, and attention you gave my sweet girl.

I believe that something was amiss, it seems to me that my guineas bladder stones were diagnosed properly but another problem was missed, something in his abdomen caused him to stop eating and drinking I feel that had it been diagnosed at the first visit he might still be here.

Excellent care but very expensive. They are quick to heap on charges. On the other hand, this is a place run by animal lovers willing to take on tough cases. As emergency care goes, they have done a great job with both my cats. For routine care, I transferred to a less expensive vet.

I arrived with my dog on a Saturday at 5PM. He could not walk and we did not know why. He fell down and was unable to get back up. I explained the situation to them and they said they needed to take him in immediately to do vitals. I waited almost 2 hours for a doctor to come out and ask me the same questions that the front desk asked me when I arrived. The doctor gave me no new info and no update on how my dog was doing. I was an absolute wreck because this injury, so to speak, was totally out of the blue. I went to the front desk and asked for someone to speak with 3 times before I was taken into a room around 7:30PM to wait for the doctor who told me that my dog s knees popped out of his sockets because he was overweight and that was why he could not walk. She sent me back out to wait and said it would not be long. I did not end up leaving until after 9PM with my dog, who I was told was totally fine and walking around after they gave him some meds but this could not have been true... I took my dog home that night who did not stop whining the whole ride home and for hours afterwards. He still was unable to walk and was absolutely miserable. Heartbreaking! Long and the short of it, I called the vet 8x between Saturday and early Monday morning. I ended up taking him to our regular vet Monday and was told his knees were perfectly fine but he had a fracture in his spine due to cancer. The word cancer was never spoken and the Xrays that I was shown, same xrays from that weekend, showed there was nothing wrong with his knees. Each time I called North Haven Vet I was treated poorly and even accused of drug seeking, paid almost 1k for nothing because my dog was put down that Tuesday morning due to a misdiagnosis by the doctors there. This is the worst experience I have ever had and will not soon forget it.

I was so grateful that I was referred to Dr. Olmsted at Central Hospital after my beloved cat received her cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Olmsted was caring, compassionate and knowledgeable. She patiently explained the diagnosis and the treatment options, answered all my questions, and gave me the information and peace of mind I required to settle on a best course of treatment for my cat.
I appreciated both her empathy and her candor; I came away with the impression that she truly cared for my cat and was committed to pursuing the best treatment options.
Dr. Olmsted is a very special doctor (oncologist); I would highly recommend to anyone.
In addition, Dr. Olmsted s assistants and the staff at Central Hospital were very friendly, caring and professional. Their warmth and compassion during the process was much appreciated.

I brought my 11 year old cat in for a severe asthma attack after my neighbors had a fire that they left smoldering overnight. From start to finish each person I spoke with was kind and listened with compassion. Due to covid-19 I was not allowed in with her but there was no point that I did not feel like I wasn't in there with her. They gave a low to high estimate before performing any procedures on her. I ended up only paying $2 over the low estimate once everything was done. The Dr I spoke with made certain to pronounce Kaya's name correctly and complimented her on her personality. She was also calm and gentle when explaining the results of all the tests etc. I could tell she genuinely loves animals. Which is a rarity and it's a shame I could not meet her in person. I never felt pressured to spend more than I had to. I was hesitant to call because of the lower reviews but I had such a wonderful experience. I hope I don't have to come back but I absolutely would in a heartbeat. Kaya is MUCH BETTER and was very relaxed and happy when we got home. Almost as if she were thanking me. This would have not happened if she was not treated with love and respect. Please don't let the negative reviews deter you.

I ended up at CHVM after my daughters beloved dog FIfi was made gravely ill by her primary veterinarian. Unfortunately, I was unaware/advised of a certain procedure they had performed on her and by the time we arrived at CHVM it was all but too late. The staff there was quick, efficient and honest. They took Fifi downstairs immediately and began assessing the situation. They reported back frequently and kept me informed of every measure being taken as well as her prognosis. They were very kind to my obviously traumatized 12 year old. Sadly, we had to make the difficult decision to euthanize FIfi as she was too ill. The people at CVHM were the most caring,compassionate and yet honest individuals I could've hoped for. Even weeks later calling for my bill they showed compassion and kindness and it is all genuine. These situations are never easy, this one was traumatic at the very least. Having such a compassionate staff made it a little easier and seeing their genuine concern for us in this time was probably overlooked that day but please know your staff did not fall short on any level. Thank you for all you did to save FIfi and thank you for being honest enough to let us know when to stop fighting.